Skyway Monte Bianco carries visitors from Courmayeur to Punta Helbronner, at 3,466m, one of the highest cable car stations in Europe.
This guide was updated in July 2026. First departures are now as early as 6:30am through until 31 July, considerably earlier than the 8:30am start that several visitor guides still quote. You can book in advance through GetYourGuide to avoid the ticket office queue.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Pontal, Strada Statale 26 dir 48, Entrèves, 11013 Courmayeur (AO), Valle d’Aosta, Italy |
| Hours | 6:30am–5:30pm (last descent), until 31 July; extends to 6pm in August |
| Round trip to Punta Helbronner | €59 (low season), €63 (August and New Year) |
| Round trip to Pavillon only | €25 (low season), €27 (August and New Year) |
| Children 0–7 | Free passage |
| Nearest transit | No train station; regional buses connect Courmayeur to Aosta and northern Italy |
| Typical visit duration | Half a day, including time at both intermediate stations |
Why book Skyway Monte Bianco tickets?
- 🏛️ One of Europe’s highest cable car experiences: rising to 3,466m at Punta Helbronner, the summit station.
- 🎟️ A 360° panoramic terrace: uninterrupted views of Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa, and the Matterhorn.
- 🌿 Europe’s highest botanical garden: the Saussurea garden is included with your ticket each summer.
- 📜 Decades of cable car history: on display at the Pavillon station’s Hangar exhibit.
- 💰 Free for young children: under-8s travel free with a paying adult.
Opening hours for Skyway Monte Bianco
Cabins depart roughly every 15 minutes, and hours shift several times across the year:
| Period | First departure | Last round trip | Last descent | Last ascent only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Until 19 April | 8:30am | 2:30pm | 3:30pm | 3pm |
| 20 April–22 May | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| 23 May–5 June | 8:30am | 3:30pm | 4:30pm | 4pm |
| 6–27 June | 7:30am | 3:30pm | 4:30pm | 4pm |
| 28 June–31 July | 6:30am | 4:30pm | 5:30pm | 5pm |
| 1–30 August (high season) | 6:30am | 5pm | 6pm | 5:30pm |
| 31 August–13 September | 7:30am | 3:30pm | 4:30pm | 4pm |
| 14 September–15 November | 8:30am | 2:30pm | 3:30pm | 3pm |
| 16 November–December | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
Weekend departures on the cable car during the 23 May–5 June window run slightly later, with the last return from the top at 4:30pm. Arrive 15 minutes before your booked ascent time, and check the site on the day of your visit, since hours can shift for technical or weather reasons.
Non-climbers are limited to 90 minutes at Punta Helbronner from their departure time in Courmayeur, unless they hold a voucher for a food experience. The descent from Pavillon has no such limit.
Ticket prices for Skyway Monte Bianco
| Ticket type | Low season | High season (Aug, and 27 Dec–4 Jan) |
|---|---|---|
| Round trip, Courmayeur–Punta Helbronner | €59 | €63 |
| Round trip, Courmayeur–Pavillon only | €25 | €27 |
| One-way, Courmayeur–Punta Helbronner | €46 | €49 |
| Family special, 2 adults + 2 kids (8–23) | €177 | €177 |
| Priority Pass | €83 | €87 |
Children 0–7 travel free, kids 8–15 get 30% off, and youths 16–23 get 20% off. Seniors get 12% off from age 66 and 30% off from age 81, and disabled visitors with a companion get 50% off with documentation. Dogs can ride to Punta Helbronner muzzled and on a lead for €15–16. The official site doesn’t state whether prices include tax. Book through GetYourGuide if you’d rather have your ticket confirmed ahead of time.
How to get to Skyway Monte Bianco
By car: from Italy, take the SS26 in Valle d’Aosta or the A5 motorway from Turin. From France, Switzerland, or northern Europe, use the Mont Blanc Tunnel or the Great St Bernard Tunnel, or the mountain passes of Colle del Gran San Bernardo and Colle del Piccolo San Bernardo, both summer-only.
By bus: Autolinee SAVDA connects Courmayeur to Aosta, the Mont Blanc Valley, and major northern Italian cities.
By air: the nearest major airport is Geneva (106km), followed by Turin Caselle (150km) and Milan Malpensa (212km). Aosta airport, about 40km away, offers seasonal and private connections.
By rail: the nearest line is the Chivasso–Aosta route.
Parking
The base station has 300 covered spaces, further outdoor parking, and dedicated bus parking. The car park opens 30 minutes before cableway service and closes 30 minutes after. The first 30 minutes are free, then €2 an hour up to 5 hours, €10 for 6–12 hours, €15 for 13–24 hours, and €15 a day for stays of up to 14 days.
How long to spend at Skyway Monte Bianco
Budget at least half a day to visit both intermediate stations properly, especially if you plan to see the Saussurea Garden or eat at Pavillon. Remember that non-climbers must leave Punta Helbronner within 90 minutes of departing Courmayeur.
Accessibility at Skyway Monte Bianco
Skyway Monte Bianco welcomes visitors with disabilities and their companions, who receive a 50% ticket reduction with appropriate documentation. The Thoula staircase near the summit is permanently closed, and any trails beyond the stations are unmarked mountaineering routes, not maintained walking paths, so they aren’t suitable for those seeking an accessible outing.
What to see at Skyway Monte Bianco
Punta Helbronner, the summit station at 3,466m, has a circular panoramic terrace with 360° views of Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa, the Matterhorn, Gran Paradiso, and Grand Combin, alongside a permanent exhibit of Mont Blanc crystals.
Pavillon du Mont Fréty, the intermediate station at 2,173m, is home to the Saussurea Alpine Botanic Garden, the highest in Europe, included with your cable car ticket each summer, plus the Cave Mont Blanc wine cellar and the immersive Mont Blanc Infinity Room.
The Hangar exhibit, also at Pavillon, tells the story of the cableway’s history from 1941 to today.
The onward journey to Chamonix, via the Panoramic Mont Blanc gondola from Punta Helbronner, crosses the Glacier du Géant to the Aiguille du Midi and down into France. It runs mid-June to mid-September only, for an extra fee on top of your Skyway ticket.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book online in advance | This avoids ticket office queues, and booking 10 or more days ahead can unlock a discounted low-season rate. |
| Watch the 90-minute limit | Non-climbers without a food-experience voucher must leave Punta Helbronner within 90 minutes of departing Courmayeur. |
| Dress for near-freezing temperatures | The summit terrace sits at 3,466m and stays cold even in August. |
| Arrive earlier than you’d expect | First departures run from 6:30am in midsummer, well before the 8:30am start many guides still list. |
| Time your visit for the Saussurea Garden | It’s included with your ticket but only open from around 20 June to 20 September. |
FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How much does a ticket cost? | A round trip to Punta Helbronner is €59 in low season, rising to €63 in August and around New Year. Booking in advance confirms your fare ahead of time. |
| Is there a time limit at the top? | Yes, 90 minutes from your Courmayeur departure, unless you’re climbing or hold a food-experience voucher. |
| Can I continue on to Chamonix? | Yes, via the Panoramic Mont Blanc gondola from Punta Helbronner, mid-June to mid-September only, for an extra fee. |
| Is it open every day? | Yes, from late May to mid-November and again in winter, aside from a maintenance closure each spring (20 April–22 May in 2026). Hours shift several times a year, running from 6:30am in midsummer to 8:30am in the shoulder seasons. |
| Are dogs allowed? | Yes, muzzled and on a lead, for an extra €15–16. |
Things to do nearby
Courmayeur town centre, a short drive or bus ride from the base station, offers restaurants, shops, and the valley’s main hub for food and lodging.
Val Veny and Val Ferret, the hiking valleys visible from Pavillon, are reachable by local bus from Courmayeur for walkers wanting ground-level views of the same peaks.
Chamonix, France, is a 20 to 30-minute drive through the Mont Blanc Tunnel, offering its own mountain town atmosphere alongside the Aiguille du Midi cable car.
La Thuile, a quieter valley town nearby, makes a relaxed alternative day out away from the busier Courmayeur crowds.
Aosta, the regional capital, is about 40 minutes’ drive and home to well-preserved Roman ruins.
What to visit tomorrow
The Aiguille du Midi cable car, reached from Chamonix town itself, is a 20 to 30-minute drive through the Mont Blanc Tunnel, and offers a comparable high-altitude panorama from the French side of the same massif.
The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cable car, above Cervinia, is roughly one and a half to two hours’ drive through the Aosta Valley, and climbs to Europe’s highest cable car station. Reaching the same lift from Zermatt, on the Swiss side, takes considerably longer, so Cervinia is the more practical approach from Courmayeur.
More Italy travel
Other Italy travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Opening hours, ticket prices and tips for visiting Fort Bard in Valle d’Aosta.
- Learn the history of chocolate at Choco-Story in Turin.
- Planning a visit to the National Automobile Museum in Turin.
- Plan your visit to Villa Carlotta on the shore of Lake Como.
- What to expect at Castello di Vezio on Lake Como.
